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“Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding;
For if you cry for discernment, Lift your voice for understanding;
If you seek her as silver And search for her as for hidden treasures;
Then you will discern the fear of the Lord And discover the knowledge of God.
For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.”
Proverbs 2:2-6 NASB

It is the time of year where many are trying to make or keep their New Year’s Resolutions.

Millions of people are joining gyms, buying workout clothes, shopping for healthy foods, and making resolutions about eating right and exercising. The sad fact is that only 8% of people who make a resolution will actually be successful in carrying it out. That’s a 92% failure rate.

I myself am not much of a resolution person. When I was younger I tried, but having proved myself o’er-and-o’er as one of the failure statistics, I stopped. However, knowing that when we make clear goals, we are more likely to accomplish them, I began to think about how I want to grow spiritually. This year I thought about what a plan for that might look like.

It is important for everyone to focus on God, but especially for us, as we walk this road of widowhood.

When we focus on the road, it’s too long, too treacherous, too wide, too lonely, and too dark; but when we focus on the cross, the road leads us right to Him and His healing.

So, this year, instead of resolutions, let’s make some “God Goals”.

These are just things that I want to do, in order to draw closer to God. We all know in order to grow and deepen any relationship, time and communication are important. Our relationship with Christ is no different. In order to grow and mature, we have to spend time in God’s Word, pray and seek His direction, learn how to communicate with Him in intimate ways, and allow Him to “speak” to us, as well.

I was challenged by a friend recently, to read Revelation in one sitting, out loud. Although I have read the book before, it was a new approach to me.

Reading aloud allows our brain to make a stronger connection to the words and create a deeper memory.

It took me about ninety minutes, and as I read, the pages came to life. I was so moved by the experience that I read a different book in the Bible aloud in one sitting each day for seven days.

Maybe your “God Goals” could be to experience a week like this. My “God Goals” this year are to spend more time in God’s Word, and in prayer and fasting. Fasting is not something we talk about often, but it is an example that Christ followed. If He did it to petition God, then I know it will have profound impact on my spiritual growth.

It does not matter where you are on your spiritual journey, there is room to grow deeper roots. Perhaps, your “God Goals” simply surround a daily quiet time, or more prayer time. Perhaps it is time reading God’s Word or books on spiritual growth that interest you. Maybe God is calling you to a new ministry or service in your community or church, which allows people to see you as His hands and feet.

Whatever it is, if God is calling you to it, He will see you through it, and you will be better for it.

I encourage you to take time to seek how God wants you to grow. Set goals and make them priorities.

There is no better way for us to spend time than in growing closer to Christ.

Lord, help us seek You in new and deeper ways during this new year. Give us fresh eyes and a renewed sense of service and commitment to You. I pray You would bless each one who reads these words, with a year full of You and the best You have for them. Amen!